Entries for November 1998

Spokane, WA: Three workers were treated for breathing problems after garbage being compacted in preparation for being burned as fuel released toxic fumes.More information

SaturdayNov 14

Fisher, IL: Six homes near a natural gas plant were evacuated after an explosion that sent flames hundreds of feet into the air.More information

FridayNov 13

Elmwood, N.J.: Firefighters dealt with a fire at a paper mill without interrupting production. A smoldering fire was found in a storage area for scrap and recycled paper.More information

FridayNov 13

Norway, WI: More than 7,000 gallons of diesel fuel was emptied into septic system mistaken for a storage tank at a manufacturing firm. The fuel flowed into a nearby creek but was contained before it could pollute a large lake.More information

ThursdayNov 12

Pearl River, China: Two Chinese tankers collided near the South China Sea, causing one to leak diesel fuel.More information

ThursdayNov 12

Woods Cross, UT: An explosion in a oil tank with a capacity of 1.5 million gallons resulted in a brief fire but no injuries. Workers were transferring oil to tankers at the time of the blast.More information

Smyrna, DE: An overturned tractor-trailer rig dumped more than 40,000 pounds of a sugar product onto the roadway.More information

ThursdayNov 12

Birmingham, AL: A chemical spill involving ink and acid shut down the city newspaper. The solution was being used to clean the printing presses.More information

ThursdayNov 12

Aurora, IL: A series of explosions ripped through a plant that reconditions propane and oxygen tank. The blaze was extinguished within 30 minutes.More information

ThursdayNov 12

Footscray, Australia: One worker was killed and another seriously injured when a large concrete slab collapsed on them in a warehouse.More information

WednesdayNov 11

Ciudad Madero, Mexico: An explosion at an oil refinery killed one worker and injured six. The explosion was located in a tank used for storing water and gasoline residual.More information

WednesdayNov 11

Apex, NV: A 30-year employee at a lime quarry went berserk, using a front loader to smash three buildings. A supervisor who tried to stop him was run down and killed. Police shot the worker to death.More information

WednesdayNov 11

Louisville, KY: Two workers were injured in a three-alarm fire at a recycling company. Firefighters needed nearly two hours to bring the blaze under control.More information

WednesdayNov 11

Glendale, AZ: A worker using an acetylene torch to cut up a metal drum was seriously injured in an explosion at a fabricating plant.More information

WednesdayNov 11

Hansen, ID: A 55-gallon drum of acetic acid fell from a transport vehicle, releasing toxic fumes. Three people were treated for exposure. The spill closed an interstate highway for seven hours.More information

WednesdayNov 11

Spokane, WA: Arson is suspected in a fire that destroyed a portion of a packing plant specializing in apples. Fire officials said the owner and tenants are not considered suspects.More information

WednesdayNov 11

Lagos, Nigeria: Eight workers aboard an offshore oil exploration rig were taken hostage by an armed gang. The hostages included three Americans.More information

TuesdayNov 10

Chelsea, S.C.: A reinforcement wall weighing several tons collapsed on two workers at a construction site. One of the two workers was critically injured.More information

TuesdayNov 10

Savannah, GA: A truck hauling hundreds of pounds of powdered phosphoric acid overturned on an interstate highway. The acid is an ingredient in soft drinks.More information

TuesdayNov 10

Mount White, Australia: A collision with a tanker truck doused a compact car with jet fuel which then ignited. The four occupants, aided by passersby, escaped with minor injuries.More information

TuesdayNov 10

Ascutney, VT: A worker at a scrap yard died from severe burns when a metal drum he was cutting up exploded. The worker was using a cutting torch at the time of the accident.More information

MondayNov 09

Porto Seguro, Brazil: An engine room explosion spread fire throughout the hold of a container vessel. No fatalities were reported.More information

Terminal Island, CA: One worker was killed and another injured when a conveyor belt collapsed at a coal yard.More information

MondayNov 09

Fruitland Park, MS: A collision sparked a fire that threatened to ignite the flammable contents of a tanker truck. The truck driver escaped with minor injuries. The driver of the other vehicle was killed.More information